CO129-591-18 Liberation of Hong Kong- arrangements for Japanese surrender 15-8-1945 - 19-4-1946 — Page 117

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CONFIDENTIAL

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This is an unparaphrased version of a secret

cypher or confidential code message, and the text must first be paraphrased if it is essential to communicate it to persons outside British or Allied Government Services.

280830Z/August.

From: C. in C. B.P.F.

To: Admiralty.

IMPORTANT

Date:

28.8.45.

Recd:

2025

NAVAL CODE X BY W/T.

Info. B.A.D.

Intend issuing following communique from C. in C. B.P.F. at Sydney when pre-arranged signal about entry into Hong Kong is received from C.T.G. 111.2. Begins:

A strong British Naval Force commanded by Rear Admiral C. H. J. Harcourt, C.B., C.B.E. flying his flag in H.M.S. INDOMITABLE entered the port of Hong Kong today to re-occupy Britain's Crown Colony. The British Force includes the aircraft carriers INDOMITABLE and VENERABLE, the battleship ANSON (Rear Admiral C.S. Daniel, C.B.E., D.S.0.), the cruisers SWIFTSURE, EURYALUS and H. M. Canadian ship PRINCE ROBERT and the destroyers KEMPENFELT, URSA, WHIRLWIND, QUADRANT, TYRIAN and TUSCAN, the submarine depot ship MAIDSTONE with submarines SELENE, SUPREME, SIDON, SPEAR HEAD, SOLENT, SEASCOUT, SLEUTH, SCOTSMAN, H.M.Australian minesweepers BROOME, BATHURST, MILDURA, WAGGA, CASTLEMAIN, STRAHAN and FREMANTLE and H.M. Hospital Ship OXFORDS IRE. The ships carry special medical supplies for the prisoners of war and interned civilians and additional Naval personnel to take over the port and restore it to full working order. Ends.

1st Lord. 1st S. L. (3) D.F.S.L. V.C.N.S. ...C.N.S. (F) Parl.Sec. 0.D. (6) D.C. (2)

D.S.O. 0.1.C. (2) D.I.I. (5)

D. of P. (a) (3)

M. (2)

Admiral Blake. C.N.I. (2)

2808302.

Advance copy C.N.I.

Foreign Office (Mr.Sterndale-Bennett) War Office (M.O.I.)

Air Ministry (5)

Colonial Office (Mr. Gent) (2)

War Cabinet Office (Mr. McVittie) War Cabinet Office (16)

/UCF